Letter For C & P States I Can't Bring Records To Exam!

[jecsb4]

Got my packet for a C & P exam with a doctor contracted by the VA as arranged by a company called QTC Medical Services.

I have posted a few times about this and don’t want to come across as redundant, but this pre-exam packet, I believed is weighed against me.

I want to provide this general medicine doctor (not a specialist) with my relevant medical evidence. Especially the data from the VA doctor and three civilian podiatrists’. The packet states that I CAN’T bring any info with me and I must submit data directly to the VA.

I am already granted a partial award for feet problems and I just can’t believe that they are sending me to a contracted doctor, especially since I have access to a major VA hospital and the VA Dr noted all of my issues in the record!

Someone told me that they are trying to give me the run around so that I just drop my claim. I don’t know if that is true, but this will be my 2nd C & P for the same issue!

It is interesting that the packet had a print out from Mapquest with directions from my place to the doctors office!! That has neverhappened before.

Does anyone know hoe I would get a copy of this type of exam? The packet states that I CAN”T get any info / results from the doctor!!!!

Thanks.

[JR Reihs]

Sounds like a Federal OWCP trick........farming out C&P's. Anything you have that has been included in your C-file or date stamped as received by the VA TAKE IT.

Make sure it is looked at, and refrenced in your C&P exam results, if not then I would file a complaint with the VA.......you may want to contact your POA on this, as it is the first time I have heard of the VA contracting out C&P's.

[jmack]

If you have relevant information regarding your upcoming C&P claim SUBMIT it, especially if it's gonna benefit your claim. If you have additional information submit it regardless of the fact that the VA has contracted doctors. I am rated 100% P/T and never took any records with me to an exam. The examiner was provided my medical records from the VA, so why would I need to take records from a VA doc? Any other records that you have should be provided to the VA by YOU. During my exams the Doc would make reference to any previous notes or visit that he had right there and I would confirm his observations. Yes, mention it to the C&P examiner about any other opinions by other doctors, but don't drive yourself "nuts" over that as long as the facts are there you will prevail. Perhaps you may consider, if you don't already have, getting a POA. Hope this helps and good luck. If anything I've said in error please forgive.

jmack

[LarryJ]

The VA contracts out their C&P's, almost ALL their C&P's.

I just had three this week, as a matter-of-fact.

One psych exam was done by a Clinical Psychologist who is employed by the VA.

One gastro, carried out by a PA, under contract, at X number of dollars per C&P exam.

One by an ortho PA, also on a contract basis, same as the gastro PA.

All of these C&P's were carried out at the Dallas VAMC ( a fairly large VA hospital ), not at an off-site clinic somewhere in the boonies.

All three went well, I do believe.

I will know when I get my med records from the FOIA office, which is located at the VAMC.

This is how YOU would go about getting a copy of YOUR C&P's, regardless of whether a VA employee did the exam, or whether it was contracted out to a non-VA employee.

Any medical exam, treatment, x-rays, lab reports, etc., will be located at the VA hospital that you have designated as the location of your choice for hospital treatment. If the treatment, etc., was conducted at an off-site clinic established and ran by the VA area hospital, then the records will be located at both the clinic AND the VA hospital, BUT, you will be able to get copies ONLY through the FOIA (Freedom Of Information Act) medical records office at the HOSPITAL.

You can either do this in person (much the best way to do it) or by written request (you used to be able to do it over the telephone but, as I am hearing now, the HIPPA privacy act is causing some places to NOT release ANY medical records unless specifically requested by the person whose records they are, and then, only IN person.

If you DO NOT have a full and complete copy of ALL your VA med recs, get them. Then LOOK at them. READ them. Had a friend of mine, read his, didn't realize he had had a sex change operation (just joking) until he read his med rec copies, in which some of them referred to him as Billie (she) as opposed to Billy (he), to the point of referring to him as her, etc.

Usually takes the FOIA med records office just a couple of minutes to print you out your copies while you stand there and make small talk with the clerk. No problema. Take your VA ID card with you.

[LarryJ]

BTW, if your info for your C&P is NOT in your C-file, do NOT waste your time dragging a bunch of stuff to your C&P exam. Doesn't matter WHAT you have, if it's NOT in your C&P file.....fergitaboutit. If you haven't submitted your stuff through the VARO and they haven't vetted it and included it in your C-file, then whatever it is that you want included for your VA examiner to see and read....well, it's just too late.

Reason being, is the fact that they will not (and, unfortunately, cannot) trust you and whatever unsubstantiated paper work that you might have.

Do not bother them with it. It'll just be a distraction and could, possibly, irritate the examiner (read: probably WILL irritate the examiner). They just have a certain alloted amount of time to see you (and the other 15-20 people that they have to examine today).

[Wings]

x

x

x

VA guidelines MANDATE a review of the Claims-File prior to a Compensation and Pension Examination.

This is just one more example of the VA refusing to follow it's own rules and regulations! I could scream, really.

Make a copy (for yourself) of the pertinent Exam Worksheet http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/exams/index.htm

Study it, create a checklist, write your questions and answers on index cards, etc., and go into the C&P armed with knowledge -- make sure he does his job examining you.

Maintain your military bearing -- and do not minimize your problems.

Edited October 18, 2007 by Wings

[Berta]

"Does anyone know hoe I would get a copy of this type of exam? The packet states that I CAN”T get any info / results from the doctor!!!!"

You can request a copy of the C & P exam results from the Records access officer at the VAMC where it occurs.

Dont forget to put your c file # on the request.

I agree with others here-

make sure the RO has this info -

these C & P docs wont take the time to read it-but I also say bring it anyhow-

just in case you have an opportunity to show it to the doctor.

But it should be in the c file already however for the doctor to see.

Have you sent it to the RO already so it appears in the c file if you can't present it?